Bible Readings:
Exodus 17:1 – 7
Numbers 20:1 – 13
1 Corinthians 10:1 – 13
Sermon Outline:
Exodus 17:1–2 (NKJV)
1 Then all the congregation of the children of Israel set out on their journey from the Wilderness of Sin, according to the commandment of the Lord, and camped in Rephidim; but there was no water for the people to drink. 2 Therefore the people contended with Moses, and said, “Give us water, that we may drink.”
So Moses said to them, “Why do you contend with me? Why do you tempt the Lord?”
I The Rock in Horeb
Exodus 17:7 (NKJV)
7 So he called the name of the place Massah and Meribah, because of the contention of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the Lord, saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?”
MARAH (מָרָה, marah). A spring of bitter water located at the sixth camp (or the first after the Red Sea passing) of the Israelites during their wilderness journey (Exod 15:23; Num 33:8–9).
RIB (רִיב, rîb), N. dispute, brawl, quarrel; lawsuit, legal case or process
MASSAH (מַסָּה, massah). Toponym for the place where Israel “tested” or “tried” (נָסָה, nasah) God in the wilderness (Exod 17:1–7; see also Deut 6:16; 9:22; 33:8; Psa 95:8) by questioning whether the Lord was among them, because they were thirsty.
MERIBAH (מְרִיבָה, merivah). Also known as Massah. The location where Yahweh brought water out of a rock for the Israelites during the wilderness wanderings (Exod 17:1–7; Psa 95:8). Paul interprets this event in the New Testament as the presence of Christ with Israel (1 Cor 10:4).
Lexham Bible Dictionary/Lexham Hebrew Lexicon
II The Rock in the OT
Numbers 20:1–3 (NKJV)
1 Then the children of Israel, the whole congregation, came into the Wilderness of Zin in the first month, and the people stayed in Kadesh; and Miriam died there and was buried there.
2 Now there was no water for the congregation; so they gathered together against Moses and Aaron. 3 And the people contended with Moses and spoke, saying: “If only we had died when our brethren died before the Lord!
Numbers 20:7–11 (NKJV)
7 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 8 “Take the rod; you and your brother Aaron gather the congregation together. Speak to the rock before their eyes, and it will yield its water; thus you shall bring water for them out of the rock, and give drink to the congregation and their animals.” 9 So Moses took the rod from before the Lord as He commanded him.
10 And Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock; and he said to them, “Hear now, you rebels! Must we bring water for you out of this rock?” 11 Then Moses lifted his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod; and water came out abundantly, and the congregation and their animals drank.
III The Rock in the light of the full Biblical revelation
1 Corinthians 10:3–4 (NKJV)
3 all ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.
1 Corinthians 10:3–4 (NASB95)
3 and all ate the same spiritual food;
4 and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ.
1 Corinthians 10:3–4 (YLT)
3 and all the same spiritual food did eat, 4 and all the same spiritual drink did drink, for they were drinking of a spiritual rock following them, and the rock was the Christ;